A global powerhouse in renewable energy is proposing a new wind farm a short gust away from the existing Prince Township Wind operation near Sault Ste. Marie.
EDF Power Solutions Development Inc. wants to erect between 30 and 35 turbines about 10 kilometres north of the city.
Its envisioned project there is smaller than the nearby Prince Wind Farm, which has 126 turbines.
But EDF already has two meteorological stations on site and likes the data it's getting.
"The project would .... include portions of Prince Twp. and Pennefather and Aweres Twp.," says a company presentation prepared for next week's city council meeting.
"There is a strong wind resource," the company says.
"It is close to existing transmission lines with capacity to connect the project .... There is a desire to host wind turbines by private landowners. 4,000 acres signed to date.
"Wind energy has been delivering electricity in this area for almost 20 years .... Approximately 15 to 18 wind turbines are proposed to be located in Sault Ste. Marie," EDF said in its presentation.
The estimated cost of the 200MW installation, dubbed the Canuck Wind Project, is $580 million.
EDF has been involved in Canadian energy projects for 16 years, with $5.2 billion invested.
On Monday, city councillors will be asked to approve a resolution supporting the EDF project.
If council agrees, that resolution will be just the beginning of a lengthy pursuit of needed approvals.
The company foresees two to three years of community, municipal and Indigenous consultation and engagement.
EDF representatives will tell Mayor Matthew Shoemaker and councillors that the resolution simply allows EDF to continue development.
"A municipal resolution does not preclude any permitting decisions at the municipal level," says a slide deck prepared for Monday's meeting.
"Providing a resolution is not approval of the project, just allows the submission of a bid."
Further work that must be done includes:
- engineering reports: project description report, construction report, design and operations report and decommissioning report;
- natural heritage assessment: site investigation, environmental impact study, species at risk report;
- water report;
- archaeological assessment reports;
- cultural heritage assessment report;
- consultation report (municipal, public, federal/provincial agencies, open house information); and
- noise impact study.
EDF is in negotiations with a potential First Nation partner to strike a formal equity partnership.
Materials prepared for Monday's council meeting indicate engagements have started with Batchewana First Nation and the Métis Nation of Ontario, with other Indigenous communities to be engaged as the project progresses.
EDF hopes construction will start in 2028 with commercial operations beginning in May 2030.
The company is offering a blast of incentives if the new wind farm happens:
- host municipality agreement ~ $6,000,000 ($300K/year x 20 years);
- host community agreement ~ $500,000;
- project participation and revenue-sharing;
- job creation and economic development;
- educational scholarships;
- public school nutrition program;
- recreation facilities/trails;
- local foundation support;
- increased property taxes: millions of dollars over course of the project;
- lease payments to landowners;
- project revenue-sharing; and
- turbine payments ~$7,500,000 (Sault Ste. Marie only).
EDF is promising to procure materials and hiring as locally as possible.
Construction is expected to take between 16 and 20 months with a peak staff of 200, 100 on average.
Opportunities for work would include:
- surveying;
- civil engineering;
- mechanical work;
- electrical work;
- transportation equipment;
- labourers, etc.;
- maintenance of paths;
- snow removal;
- vehicle maintenance; and
- hospitality and other worker services.
Support for the EDF project has already been secured with United Way of Sault Ste. Marie, Algoma Family Services and St. Vincent Place, the company says.
Monday's city council meeting will be livestreamed on SooToday starting at 5 p.m.
